Combined cigarette lighter, flashlight, and writing implement



July 13, 1943. B. ZENO 2,323,960

COMBINED CIGARETTE LIGHTER, FLASHLIGHT,

AND WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed May 1, 1941 `.1. v//L ulg/1111011" 'mvENToR efuyrzo Zerco v ATTORNEY Patented July 13, 1943 LIGHT, AND WRITING IMPLEME Benigno Zeno, New York, N. Y. Application May 1, 1941, Serial No. 391,228

4 Claims. (Cl. 24o-6.46)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combined cigarette lighter, iiashlight and writing implement.

'I'he invention proposes the construction of an article as mentioned which is characterized by a tubular housing having a light transmitting truste-conical shaped end portion supporting a writing implement at its lower end. A ashlight is mounted within said housing capable of lighting an area around the writing implement.

Still further the invention proposes to provide a cigarette or cigar lighter upon the top end of the tubular housing. y The invention also contemplates the provision of alight shield mounted within the housing and adjustable to various positions to control the light which is emanating from the frusto-conical shaped end portion so as to more conveniently light a restricted area in the vicinity of the writing implement.

Another object of the invention resides in characterizing the device by the fact that the writing implement may comprise a mechanical pencil or fountain pen.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features oi' the invention'are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined cigarette lighter, flashlight and writing implement constructed in accordance with this invention.

thereof broken away to disclose interior parts.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the light shield partially shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a combined cigarette lighter, flashlight and writing implement constructed in accordance with a modified form of this invention, an outer portion thereof being broken away to disclose interior parts.

The combined cigarette lighter, ilashlight, and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the object shown in Fig. 1, with an outer portion writing instrument, in accordance with this invention, includes a tubular housing I5 having a tion Il. A flashlight I2 is located-within the housing I0 and has a lamp I3 within the said end portion II. A light shield I4 is disposed within the housing III and extends across the upper portion of said end portion I I. This shield I4 is provided with a handle I5 extending longitudinally along one wall of the housing I0. Means is providedl for clamping the ilashlight I2 and handle I5 in various longitudinal positions within the housing I0 as will become clear as this specification proceeds. The purpose of this arrangement is that the lamp I3 and shield I4 may be relatively moved, longitudinally of the end portion II to control the compass oi' the emitted light.

The frusto-conical shaped end portion II of the housing III is connected with the main portion of the housing with a threaded section IB. The end portion II is made from transparent or translucent composition material, or with other stii material which transmits rays of light. A cigarette or cigar lighter II is removably mounted on the top end 0f the housing lil. This lighter may be of any design or construction. It lis shown provided with a threaded bottom portion i8 which threadedly engages into the toppertion of the housing III.

The flashlight I2 includes a tubular ilber body I9 encasing the battery 2li. The top end of the tubular body I 9 is normally closed with a removable cap 2|. A spring 22 is mounted in this end of the tubular body and urges the battery 20 downwards. 'Ihe tubular body I9 is provided with a bottom end cap 23 into which the lamp I3 is removably mounted. The ashlight I2 is also provided vwith a switch 24 mounted on one side and extending through an elongated slot 25 formed in the side of the housing I0. The details of the electric circuit of the flashlight I2 will not be given in this specification as it forms no part of this invention, and flashlights of this type are generally known. However, it should` be clear that the arrangement is such that the switch 24 may be closed to cause the lamp I3 to light, and may be opened to extinguish the lamp.

The light shield I4 comprises a flexible sheet of metal bent into frusto-conical shape and having its side edge portions I4a and Mb slightly overlapping. The handle I5 extends upwards from on the top of the shield Id. The arrangement is such that when the handle I5 is moved downwards the overlapping areas I4a and lib will be further forced over each other, contracting the light shield I4 as it engages into lower portions of the tapering end portion II. When the handle I5 is raised the light shield I4 automatically expands as it moves upwards into the larger part of the end portion I I.

The means for clamping the flashlight I2 and the handle I5 in various longitudinal positions within the casing includes a clamp strip 26 extended along one side of the housing I interiorly thereof. Several pins 21 are mounted upon the ends of the clamp strip 26 and pass through small openings in the housing III so as to movably support the clamp strip in position. A screw 2B threadedly passes through the side wall of the housing I0 and is rotatively connected with the clamp strip 26 (see Fig. 5) so as to be capable of moving the clamp strip inwards and outwards as the screw is turned. A tubular casing 29 is mounted over a portion of the tubular body I9 of the flashlight I2, and is fixedly connected therewith with adhesive or other similar material. 'Ihe handle portion I5 rests against this casing 28. The clamp strip 26 rests against the handle I5.'

A headed stud 3l] is connected with the top portion of the handle I5 and extends through an elongated slot 3| in the housing I0. Another headed stud 32 is mounted upon the side of the flashlight I2 and extends through an elongated slot 33 in the housing I0.

Replacement of the battery 20 is accomplished by removing the lighter I`I from the housing III and the stud 32 is then moved to the upper end of the slot 33 causing the cap 2I to be extended beyond the end of the housing ID permitting the battery 20 to be removed. Likewise, to replace the lamp I3 the frusto-conical end portion II is unscrewed from the end of the housing I0 and the stud 32 is moved to the lower end of the slot 33 causing the lamp to be slightly projected beyond the lower end of the housing I0 to be unscrewed from its socket.

A mechanical pencil 34 is mounted on the bottom of the end portion II of the casing. The details of this pencil will not be given in this specification as it forms no part of this invention. In Fig. 6 a modied form of the invention is disclosed in which a fountain pen 35 is mounted upon the bottom of the end portion II. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and like parts are identified by like reference numerals,

The operation of the device is as follows:

The screw 28 may be slightly loosened, and then the headed studs 30 and 32 may be manually moved to correspondingly move the handle I5 and the flashlight I2. It is thus possible to relatively set these parts so that the rays of light which pass out from the light transmitting end portion I I are suitably directed downwards upon the material upon which the writing implement is being used. After the handle I5 and flashlight I2 have been adjusted to ones convenience the screw 28 is tightened to xedly hold these parts in position.

The lighter Il may be used in the conventional way.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

move said shield relative to said lamp and end portion for controlling the quantity o! light emanating from said end portion, and means for holding said handle in various fixed positions to correspondingly hold said shield, said latter means, comprising a clamp strip movably mounted between the adjacent faces of said.

handle and wall of said housing, and a screw threadedly passed through said wall of said housing and having its inner end rotatively attached to said clamp strip to move said clamp strip to secure said handle between said clamp strip and adjacent face of said flashlight when said screw is turned.

2. A device of the class described having a tubular housing with a light transmitting frustoconical end portion and a flashlight within said housing having its lamp disposed adjacent said end portion, a circular light shield disposed within said end portion and in face contact with the walls thereof, a handle extending from said shield between the adjacent faces of said flashlight and one wall of said housing, means for longitudinally moving said handle to correspondingly move said shield relative to said lamp and end portion for controlling the quantity of light emanating from said end portion, and means for holding said handle in various fixed positions to correspondingly hold said shield, said latter means, comprising a clamp strip movably mounted between the adjacent faces of said handle and wall of said housing, and a screw threadedly passed through said Wall of said housing and having its inner end rotatively attached to said clamp strip to move said clamp strip to secure said handle between said clamp strip and adjacent face of said flashlight when said screw is turned, said movable mounting of said clamp strip, comprising a pin mounted on said clamp strip on either side of said screw, said pins being slidably extended through complementary aligned openings formed in said housing.

3. A device of the class described having a tubular housing with a light transmitting frustoconical end portion and a flashlight within said housing having its lamp disposed adjacent said end portion, a circular light shield disposed within said end portion and in face contact with the walls thereof, a handle extending from said shield between the adjacent faces of said flashlight and one wall of said housing, means for longitudinally moving said handle to correspondingly move said shield relative to said lamp and end portion for controlling the quantity of light emanating from said end portion, and means for holding Ysaid handle in various fixed positions to correspondingly hold said shield, said light shield being formed of a strip of exible metal bent into a circular shape and having its ends overlapped causing said shield to contract when forced into said frusto-conical end portion and to expand when withdrawn therefrom.

4. A device of the class described having a tubular housing with a light transmitting end portion, a iiashlight disposed within said housing and having its lamp disposed within said end portion so that the rays of light may pass through said end portion, a circular light shield encircling said lamp and in face contact with said end portion, means for movably supporting said flashlight to be movable relative to said housing for shifting the position of said lamp relative to said light shield and end portion, means for movably supporting said light shield to be movable rela- 10 

